Tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in obese and lean patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective. Disturbances in the fibrinolytic system are predictors of future cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to compare plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) activity and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) mass concentration between patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and control subjects. Design. One hundred thirty-five patients with PCOS (lean and obese) and 81 healthy controls were recruited for the study. Blood samples for PAI-1 activity and tPA mass were collected together with anthropometric measures. Results. Obese patients with PCOS displayed increased tPA mass concentration in comparison with controls (p<0.05), and this finding was consistent regardless of whether patients displayed signs of hyperandrogenism or not. When hyperandrogenism was introduced as a prerequisite for the PCOS diagnosis, obese patients with PCOS displayed increased PAI-1 activity as well, p<0.05. Lean patients with PCOS did not differ in terms of PAI-1 activity or tPA mass concentration in comparison to controls. Conclusion. Obese women with PCOS have impaired fibrinolysis, in particular if they also display objective biochemical markers of hyperandrogenism.